Lignocellulosic biomass is the most abundant renewable resource for the potential replacement of fossil fuels, though to fully realize this potential, an improved understanding of the chemical structures of its components within the biomass and after each bioprocessing is critical. In this study we are investigating the fate of lignin during auto hydrolysis.  We have carried out an auto hydrolysis of poplar enzymatic lignin at different temperatures and subsequently analyzed the structural changes by 2D 13C-1H HSQC NMR, 31P NMR and Gel permeable chromatography. Our results suggested that with increase in temperature and time of auto hydrolysis, an increase in cleavage of lignin side-chain units, increase in phenolic units, and increase in condensation and decrease in molecular weights of lignin. This kind of study provides a better understanding of pretreatment chemistry and will facilitate improved methodology to reduce biomass recalcitrance in a cost-effective way.

Investigation of fate of poplar lignin during auto hydrolysis pretreatment to understand the biomass recalcitrance

244th National Meeting (2012)

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